104 



hay, the pleasant odour they impart being grateful to most herbivorous 

 animals ; but I express the opinion at once that our scented grass is 

 of no agricultural importance. It is true that it is probably fairly 

 nutritious ; but its foliage is sparse, the whole plant is wiry, the seed 

 is less abundant than in the other Australian (and in most other) 

 species; and, supposing for a moment that anyone in the Colony 

 thinks of propagating it, the warning of Mr. Fletcher, of Canada, as 

 to the tendency of a closely-related species to become (in Manitoba) 

 a noxious weed, should be borne in mind. 



Speaking of a native Hierochloe, Mr. Bacchus states : " I am aware 

 that stock eat the grass, but know nothing of its merits for grazing. 



We will now inquire what is the opinion held in regard to Hieroch- 

 loes in older countries. 



Under the name of Holcus odoratus, there are some interesting 

 notes on Hierochloe borealis in Sinclair's Hortus Gramineus Wobumensis 

 (2nd ed., p. 167). There are some data as to the product per acre 

 of this grass, dried and green, and at different seasons. Mr. Sinclair 

 proceeds : {< Though this is one of the earliest flowering grasses, it is 

 tender, and the spring produce of herbage is very inconsiderable, the 

 flowering straws rising up in a manner destitute of leaves. This 

 deficiency of produce is much to be regretted, as the nutritive 

 qualities of the grass are greater than in most of the early spring 

 grasses. It sends forth but a few flower straws, which are of a slender 

 structure compared with the size of the leaves. In no instance that 

 I have observed was this grass eaten by the hares and rabbits which 

 preyed upon many of the other grasses. The powerful creeping 

 roots of this grass, its tender nature, and the great deficiency of 

 foliage in the spring, are demerits which discourage the idea of 

 recommending it further to the notice of the agiculturist." 



H. borealis is dedicated to the Virgin Mary on account of its sweet- 

 ness, and is strewn about Catholic Churches in Northern Europe on 

 festival days. Hence the name Holy-grass. The odour it emits is 

 much more powerful when it is trampled upon. It is often called 

 Vanilla-grass, on account of its perfume. This is the grass stated 

 by Don to be indigenous to Scotland, as well as to Sweden, Norway, 

 &c. No one else found it in Scotland, and it was dropped out of 

 lists, until Robert Dick, the baker, botanist, and geologist, of 

 Thurso, rediscovered it in that country, and an account of the 

 discovery is pleasantly recounted by Samuel Smiles in his life of that 

 worthy. 



Hierochloe borealis is common along the streams and rivers in the 

 mountainous districts of Montana, U.S.A., frequently occupying ex- 

 tensive areas to the exclusion of all other grasses. (Prof. Scribner, 

 quoted by Dr. Vasey.) Dr. Vasey says that this grass is known in 

 the United States as Vanilla or Seneca Grass, and Holy-grass. " It 

 is a perennial grass of northern latitudes, growing in moist meadows 

 near the coast, also in low marshy ground in some parts of Illinois 

 and other States bordering the great lakes, and in the mountains of 

 Colorado and northward. ... In our country it does not appear 

 to be adapted to general cultivation." 



